Chapter 4

The contract was fucking weird. I read every single word of it as I tested my stomach’s ability to hold down more food than I’d eaten in a month. Chewing the last bite of my burger, savoring the bacon and cheese, I wiped my greasy fingers on my jeans then turned the page.

A few things stuck out:

*Employee will sign a non-disclosure agreement (hereby referred to as NDA) pertaining to all aspects of company and personal relationships involving the employer.

I guess he doesn’t want me spilling his business to the press. Makes sense.

*Employee will submit to a physical exam, as well as a blood test, every three months. All results will be fully disclosed to the employer.

Little weird, but he probably wants to make sure I’m not on drugs.

I had to read the next section over twice because…what the hell?

*Discipline for any infractions will be handled by the employer or the head of security. All aspects of discipline fall under the NDA.

What the actual fuck?

I kept reading, wondering if there would be any details about the ‘discipline’. Was I gonna be writing lines? Kneeling in the corner like a five year old? What kind of company used the word ‘discipline’ in their contracts?

I struggled not to laugh as I considered Luther signing something like this. Did Mr. Ashburne spank him when he was bad?

Luther shot me a curious look. “Any questions?”

Shaking my head, I glanced down at the word ‘discipline’ again. And cleared my throat. “Did you sign this contract?”

Letting out a sharp laugh, Luther sat back in his chair and folded his arms over his massive chest. “No.”

“Oh…” I frowned when he smirked at me, like he knew something I hadn’t figured out yet. “What sort of discipline are we talking about here?”

“That will be discussed after you sign the NDA.”

“But Mr. Ashburne told me you’d answer any questions I asked.”

“Yes.” Luther sounded amused. “I just did.”

Great. Well, if that was the kind of answer I was gonna get, why bother?

I continued on to the forms, which took up the last three pages. The first page was easy enough. Education, experience, former employment. Didn’t have much to write there. I used to take out the trash for the old lady next door when I was a kid. She paid me a buck a week. I didn’t think Mr. Ashburne would consider that a job.

My lips parted as I started on the next page.

* Number of sexual partners, past and present.

He couldn’t legally ask that, could he? What the hell did who I’d slept with have to do with being a secretary?

Not that I had anything to hide…well, except that I was lame for a guy my age. I jotted down a number that I thought would look good. Five was a nice number.

Luther made a low sound of disapproval. “Lying on your application is a very bad idea, Alec.”

“How do you know I’m lying?”

His brow rose.

I sighed, crossed out the five, and wrote the truth.

Zero.

He leaned forward and grinned. “That’s what I thought.”

Glaring at him, I pulled the form closer to me. “Why the fuck do I have to answer all these personal questions? What does my sex life have to do with the job?”

“That will be discussed after—”

“After I sign the NDA. Fuck, you’re useless.”

As I moved to continue filling out the insanely invasive form, Luther latched onto my wrist. “A little advice, boy. Do not swear at me. And if you have any brains in that cute little head of yours, you won’t ever swear at Mr. Ashburne.”

Heat spread across my cheeks even as goosebumps rose all over my skin. Out of all the rules and questions, not swearing at my boss was probably the most reasonable request so far, but there was no mistaking the warning in Luther’s tone. It reached some primal instinct within, one that had wolves baring their throat to the leader of the pack, admitting defeat because defiance would cost them their life.

I finished filling out all the papers, signed and initialed where indicated, and handed them over.

Luther set the neatly stacked papers in front of him and gave me a level look. “I know this isn’t easy, Alec. And I know there’s a lot you don’t understand. It will be overwhelming, but I promise you one thing.”

Nibbling on a fry, because I was full, but I had to try to test my limits a little, I met his eyes.

“I will do my best to get you through this. I decided you’d be worth my time, and Mr. Ashburne’s, when you refused to turn your brothers in even after they ditched you. When you were willing to pay for their crimes. You’re a good kid.” His lips thinned. “I hope you’re strong enough to get through the next few days. If you are, you’ll look back and consider this the best thing that ever happened to you.”

“And if I’m not?” I had to ask. I had no idea what I’d really signed on for. He wasn’t painting any pretty pictures for me.

He lifted his shoulders and sighed. “Then you’ll probably be hoping it’s all a nightmare, and one day you’ll wake up. You’re not the first young man I’ve had this conversation with, Alec.” His lips curved slightly. “But you’re the first one I’d be willing to put money on. And I might do so, so don’t let me down.”